Have a Pint with Jesus

The face of Jesus has shown up in some mysterious places, but now it will appear in the frothy remains of a pint of beer as a part of the Churches Advertising Network’s Christmas 2006 ad. You may remember the Churches Advertising Network from such controversial ads as Che Guevara Jesus and What would love do now?. Part of the campaign includes a MySpace site set up for Jesus.

“The message is subtle but simple–where is God in all the boozing at Christmas?” asks Churches Advertising Network Chairman Francis Goodwin. “For many, Christmas is just drinking and partying and God is excluded, yet many young people are interested in finding deeper meaning and exploring faith. We hope the link to Myspace will offer another venue for them to discuss their feelings and debate the issues.”

6 Responses to “Have a Pint with Jesus”

“Reaching today’s youth is difficult, just ask any marketer. The Church’s Advertising Network would agree and they’re taking a page from what other youth marketers are doing in promotion via MySpace.
Jesus’ MySpace page isn’t pretty, but it is well done. The site is written to cultivate humor. His interests include ‘beard care’ and ‘waterskiing’. Favorite movie? Life of Brian They’ve even poked fun at all the sightings of Jesus in everyday objects by posting a gallery of pics that celebrate them. I didn’t see the Jesus in Toast that was on eBay last year, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. more…”

I keep showing this kind of thing to our Senior Pastors (we are multi-campus, but each campus has its own senior leadership… I could go on and on about that, but that’s for another day) and I keep hearing, “I love that, but it’s too postmodern for our congregation.” Sometimes I wonder why they started a communications team…
I love the creative approaches. Please keep them coming!

I don’t necessarily have a problem with the ad, I just wonder if things like this are really effective. Does it really make people “think” or do they just look at it and say “Hey, look. Jesus in a beer glass.” I really wonder if some churches (and para church org’s) are trying so hard to get peoples attention that they’re falling in to the same trap that some corporations are; all bait and no hook. I encourage everyone to check out the book “The Fall of Advertising and the Rise of PR” to see what I’m talking about. There is definately a necessity for quality design and advertising, but let’s not get so “creative” that people don’t even know what the message is supposed to be.

Okay, I read your website, I have heard your call, now I have a call also. I need your help. I have an exciting topic, it is fresh, new, innovative and cross denominational. I was told how to get it out there to the masses, but I need some help doing it. I teach others how to see GOD as HE sits on Throne and live to tell about it, and how to eventually see HIS face as Moses did. Some people of the “church system” have kept me quiet for over a decade, now I am yelling out loud.

Kinda tasteless if you ask me. I really don’t know what else to say. It is just… well it is a little much for someone who sees people actualy trying to find God in beer. It is like saying hope and peace found here.